Residents of Walnut Ridge said heat made it difficult to do activities inside their apartments since the spring semester began.
Walnut Ridge Apartments use swamp coolers to cool student rooms. Residence Life confirmed the swamp coolers remained off until the second week of April. Resident and English sophomore Jeyda Horn said it wasn’t soon enough.
“I bake a lot,” Horn said. “It’s either do a hobby, and be miserable, or be bored and have it like two degrees cooler.”
Food went bad in her apartment due to the heat. Horn received chocolate bunnies as an Easter present. The bunnies melted even though Horn kept the blinds closed, per Res Life’s recommendation.
Freshman ecology major and resident Annie Barnes reported that her fruit kept at room temperature went bad faster.
Residents said when they needed to leave to beat the heat. The residents found refuge in Tomlinson Library and the on-campus Starbucks.
Res Life winterized the swamp coolers last fall. The coolers use water to cool in the summer and could freeze if temps go below freezing.
Sophomore outdoor recreation major and resident Sarah Lantermans said keeping the windows open at night became an issue. The sand volleyball and basketball courts sits in front of her apartment. Lantermans said the sound of bouncing balls and people yelling was overwhelming.
“It sounds like it’s right next to your ear,” Lantermans said.
Barnes also said that the placement of the swamp coolers is in the way.
“If you’re over 5 feet, you’re going to bang your head on it,” Barnes said.
Barnes and Horn both said they ran into a swamp cooler multiple times.
Residence Life suggested residents open their windows in the early morning to bring in cool air, close their blinds or drapes during the day to block sunlight, use fans to help create a breeze, avoid using their ovens and stoves during the hottest parts of the day and turn off “unnecessary” lights and electronics in an email.
During the warmer days, residents reported apartments to be over 75 degrees.
“Sometimes it was nicer outside than in the dorms,” Barnes said.
Horn said returning to her dorm felt like walking into “the room of doom.”
“Why did you turn on all of the campuses’ other water features, but not our swamp coolers?” Horn said.
